Duncan's Dog Co.
How to Check a Dog Daycare Is Licensed
Every dog daycare in England needs a council licence. Here is how to check one, council by council, across the areas we collect from.
Three checks before you book
1. Ask to see the licence. It should name the council, the licence number, the activities covered (day care for dogs), the star rating and the expiry date. The business must display it, and its licence number should be on its website.
2. Check the star rating. Councils rate licensed daycares from one to five stars. Five stars means the higher welfare standards are met and the business is judged low risk. One or two stars means the council re-inspects every year.
3. Check the council's register. Every council publishes a register of the animal activity licences it has issued. Registers are not always up to date, so if a daycare is missing, ask it for its licence number and check with the council.
Council by council
The councils that cover the areas we collect from, how many licensed dog daycares their registers listed in September 2026, and what a new licence costs there. Figures from Genera Software's dated star ratings by council and licence fees by council.
| Council | Areas | Licensed daycares listed | New licence fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elmbridge | Cobham, Esher, Weybridge, Walton-on-Thames, Hersham, Claygate, Oxshott, St George's Hill | 18 (11 five-star, 7 four-star) | £432 or £510 |
| Wandsworth | Wandsworth, Putney, Balham, Earlsfield, Southfields, Tooting, part of Clapham | 5 (2 five-star, 2 four-star, 1 three-star) | £719 |
| Lambeth | Clapham | 4 (2 five-star, 1 four-star) | £749.53 |
| Merton | Wimbledon, Raynes Park, Morden, Copse Hill, part of Motspur Park | None listed | Not published |
| Kingston | New Malden, part of Motspur Park | 1 (five-star) | £994 to £1,183 |
| Guildford | Effingham, Horsley | 6 (5 five-star, 1 four-star) | £1,164.50 |
| Woking | Byfleet, West Byfleet | 2 (1 five-star, 1 four-star) | £608 |
Registers read 23 September 2026; fees checked September and October 2026. A count is only as current as the council's register.
Our licence
Duncan's Dog Co. is licensed by Elmbridge Borough Council for day care and rated five stars, licence LN/201800994. Boarding is licensed separately, LN/202400651. Ask to see the certificate on your meet and greet.
Questions owners ask
How do I check if a dog daycare is licensed?
Ask to see the licence. It should show the licence number, the council, the activities it covers, the star rating and the expiry date, and the business must display it. The licence number should also be on the daycare's website. Then check the council's public register of animal activity licences.
What do dog daycare star ratings mean?
Councils rate licensed daycares from one to five stars. Five stars means the business meets the higher welfare standards and is judged low risk, and it earns a three-year licence. One or two stars means a one-year licence and a new inspection every year.
Is it illegal to run a dog daycare without a licence?
Yes. Providing day care for dogs as a business in England needs a licence from the local council, and running one without a licence is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Is Duncan's Dog Co. licensed?
Yes. Our daycare is licensed by Elmbridge Borough Council and rated five stars, licence LN/201800994.